Aprilia move suits Laverty
After Yamaha's exit from World Superbikes ahead of the 2012 season, Eugene Laverty insists he is happy at his new home with the Aprilia Racing Team.
The Northern Irishman was set for another season with Yamaha alongside Italian rider Marco Melandri, but after the Japanese manufacturer's sudden exit, Melandri is now with BMW Motorrad Motorsport, while Laverty insists he has enjoyed a seamless transition to Aprilia.
"It was disappointing for both Marco and me having been signed in for the second year with Yamaha, but I have been fortunate to have picked up a competitive ride even though for a fair few months it was not so nice, because I was still looking for a job.
"It has worked out well. As soon as I got on the Aprilia it felt quite rigid but it suited me right away, and I could be fast on it right away," the 25-year-old said.
"I brought two technicians along with me, Marcus Eschenbacher (former Yamaha race engineering linchpin) and Phil Marron, whom I worked with at Parkalgar before. Aprilia were open to it and the whole team gelled pretty well at the test at Portimao in the end of November last year."
Looking ahead to the 2012 SBK season which begins at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Australia on 26 February, Laverty is confident he will be challenging reigning World Superbike champion Carlos Checa.
"I will be testing at Phillip Island very soon but there will be a few other teams there too, and then the two-day official test in the week running up to the race itself. The aim is to be there from the word go.
"Checa will be very strong but after that it will be open to anybody, so there is no reason why we cannot be fighting with Checa as well," said Laverty who finished fourth on the riders' standings last year.